Defending against charges of White Collar Crime requires more than 60 minutes and a catchy jingle. A conviction for a non-violent federal crime may result in expensive fines, the loss of professional licenses, the forfeiture of assets, and years in prison. Engaging a federal criminal defense lawyer is essential if you or a loved one has been charged with a white-collar criminal offense, to protect your interests and navigate the complexities of federal law.
White-collar crime encompasses a broad range of offenses that typically involve financial matters. These crimes are generally committed by business professionals and government officials to obtain financial gain or benefit through deception, manipulation, or misrepresentation. A federal criminal defense lawyer understands the nuances of these cases, as white-collar crimes are a growing concern of state and federal law enforcement agencies who are aggressively prosecuting individuals and corporations. Conviction of a white-collar crime could have devastating consequences on your personal and professional life.
Our legal team, well-equipped to defend clients facing state and federal investigations and prosecutions in white-collar cases, includes attorneys who specialize as federal criminal defense lawyer. They will carefully review all the details of your case and will vigorously work to get you the best possible results.
Extensive experience in defending business executives, senior managers, and private individuals in complex white-collar fraud matters and investigations at the federal level is crucial. A federal criminal defense lawyer also assists businesses in internal investigations and responds to grand jury subpoenas. Whether you are being investigated for tax fraud, securities fraud, wire fraud, or money laundering, a lawyer with this specialization can help.
Our Long Island White-Collar Criminal Lawyers have the resources and skills to level the playing field with prosecutors who often have enormous financial resources, state-of-the-art investigative tools, and teams of powerful attorneys. A federal criminal defense lawyer in our firm’s Brooklyn office is dedicated to protecting your rights and preserving your freedom.
Contact a Suffolk County White-Collar Criminal Defense Lawyer for a free consultation. We have experience defending individuals, companies, and their officers and directors against criminal charges including tax fraud and evasion, healthcare fraud, insurance fraud, bribery, and more. We have successfully defended business professionals, doctors, and even political figures.
The United States Sentencing Commission promulgates sentencing guidelines and policy statements for use by the federal courts. These rules reflect and serve multiple purposes of the criminal justice system, including the deterrence of reoffending, identifying the offenders who pose the greatest risk to society, and punishing those whose conduct demonstrates a disregard for the law. Consulting a federal criminal defense lawyer is essential to navigate these complex guidelines and ensure fair representation in federal court.
This year, the Commission has addressed a number of issues raised by recent cases and other commentators. First, the amendment limits the scope of circumstances under which a judge may reduce an unusually long sentence pursuant to section 3582(c)(1). The new language specifies that a defendant must present extraordinary and compelling reasons for a reduction after the court has fully considered his or her individualized circumstances. A federal criminal defense lawyer can be instrumental in presenting such extraordinary and compelling reasons effectively to the court.
The Commission also has made several other changes to the guideline system to better reflect current realities of federal drug offenses and to ensure that the guideline penalties are aligned with the statutory maximum penalty. These changes include the need for a federal criminal defense lawyer to stay updated on these evolving guidelines to provide the best defense possible.
Moreover, understanding the intricacies of these amendments and how they apply to each case is vital for any federal criminal defense lawyer. This ensures that clients are represented in a manner that accurately takes into account the latest legal developments and their potential impact on sentencing.
Lastly, the role of a federal criminal defense lawyer becomes increasingly crucial as these guidelines continue to evolve. It is their responsibility to interpret these changes and advocate for their client's rights and interests within the framework of these new rules.
For decades, many defendants pleaded guilty to crimes that were more serious than the actual underlying conduct because of overzealous prosecutorial tactics, a disproportionate focus on demographic groups, and general misguided sentencing principles. Fortunately, Amendment 821 creates new opportunities to seek reductions in federal sentences. Engaging a federal criminal defense lawyer is critical in leveraging these changes to the fullest, requiring careful strategy and a commitment to pursuing resentencing motions and appeals. Defense lawyers must be ready to advocate for a full range of relevant facts, including evidence of racial bias, overcharging, and excessive incarceration, in addition to highlighting specific mitigating circumstances.
The new policy statement also retains the catchall ground that currently appears in Application Note 1(D). The Commission determined that this language remains appropriate because it reflects congressional intent to give judges discretion to consider a wide range of circumstances. A federal criminal defense lawyer can help ensure that any extraordinary and compelling reason presented is similar in gravity to those specified in the new policy statement, to prevent judges from granting reductions in cases where the circumstances are not as grave.
In addition, the new policy statement adds a limitation on the use of changes in law. While a non-retroactive change in the law could still serve as an extraordinary and compelling reason, it may not be used to justify a reduction in every case. The new rule limits this circumstance to those where a defendant “otherwise establishes that extraordinary and compelling reasons warrant a sentence reduction.” A federal criminal defense lawyer can navigate these limitations and establish the necessary extraordinary and compelling reasons for their clients.
The amendment makes several targeted revisions. For example, it increases eligibility for a sentence reduction in cases where a defendant’s child has severe physical or mental disabilities that require 24-hour care. This change is a response to cases where courts have found that such circumstances are analogous to those in which courts have granted relief under the Compassionate Release program. A federal criminal defense lawyer can assist in presenting such unique circumstances effectively to the court.
It also reduces recommended guideline ranges for offenders who have no criminal history points under the guidelines (“zero-point offenders”). The Commission believes that this adjustment balances the goal of implementing data-driven sentencing policies with the statutory purpose of crafting penalties that reflect the statutory purposes of the Sentencing Act. In such cases, a federal criminal defense lawyer can play a crucial role in highlighting the lack of criminal history to argue for lower guideline ranges.
Aside from these specific adjustments, the amendment largely clarifies and streamlines existing policies. The Commission is committed to ensuring that these new rules will be applied fairly and consistently, with attention to the underlying factors and consideration of the impact of a particular sentence. To this end, it will continue to monitor and review these policy changes over time to ensure they remain relevant and enforceable. For more information on how these new rules might affect your case, contact an experienced federal defense attorney. They can help you craft the best possible arguments for a sentence reduction and advocate for your case throughout the process, from pre-trial through appeal.
Law Offices of Jason Bassett, P.C. | Criminal Attorney and DWI Lawyer
320 Carleton Ave Suite 4200, Central Islip, NY 11722, United States
(631) 259-6060